Improvement in crimping apparatus for the uppers of boots and shoes



I. H. & J'. D. SPAKE.

CRIMPING APPARATUS FOR THE UPPERS OF BOOTS AND SHOES.

Patented May15,1877.

-llllllllfllllllllllll \llllllll- UNITED STATES PATENT @FFIGEBL ISAIAH-H. SPAKE AND JOSEPH SPAKE, OF BLUFFTON, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CRlMPlNG APPARATUS FOR THE UPPERS 0F BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 190,922, dated May 15,1877; application filed October 225, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, ISAIAH H. SPAKE andJOSEPH D. SPAKE, both of Blufl'ton, in the county of Wells and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLeather-Grimpers and we do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part .of thisspecification, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is avertical cross-section, after the line denoted by a; as. Fig. 3 is asimilar section, showing the position of the crimping-jaws in the act ofcrimping; and Fig. 4 is a top plan.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

The nature of our invention consists in the construction and arrangementof the operative parts of a leather-crimping machine, as will behereinafter more fully set forth.

In the drawing, A is the bed of our machine, upon which are secured theuprights or forms B B, for holding the crimpingboard 0. The latter is ofthe construction shown in the cross-sections, Figs. 2 and 3- that is, itis wedge-shaped, with straight sides, the straight sides beginning aboutone inch from the front edge of the board, and running clear to the backthereof. The uprights B B have lugs or steps b b, the former fittinginto a recess at the top of the crimping-board, and the latter abuttingagainst the toe-piece thereof, so as to hold the board securely in itsplace. Upright B terminates in a projection, b, which catches up underthe heel-piece of the board, and upright B has a set-screw, a, bytightening which the board, after it has been inserted sidewise into itsposition, will be held firmly in its place during the operation ofcrimping. D is. a guide-piece, affixed upon the bed of the machine, soas to face the corresponding guide-piece d, which projects laterallyfrom the upright B. E E are the crimping-jaws, which face each other,and are arranged between the guide-pieces D d, which control their upand downward motions and prevent lateral play. The faces of these jawsare of peculiar construction, being shaped so as to incline in threedirectionsviz., from the heel to the toe of front, from the heel to thetop of front, and from the heel to the crimp. This shape causes thejaws, when the machine is operated, to fit tightly the inclinations ofthe board, so as to exert a close and even pressure against the leatherplaced between the board and crimping-jaws. These are caused to approacheach other in an inclined position by means of a rod, e, which, passingthrough openings in the jaws, is secured, at each end, in a stoutspring, 0 G, that rests upon a narrow shoulder or flange, f f, thatprojects from the outer straight face of each jaw. By tightening the nutg upon the end of rod 6 the power required to separate the jaws E E attheir point of contact will, of course, be increased. F is a crank,operating a shaft, G, and pinion H, which engages with the ratchet I,moving vertically through a slot in the bed-plate A. To the upper end ofratchet I is affixed a horizontal plate, K, which fits into notches h hin the crimping-jaws, so that by moving ratchet I, and with it plate K,up or downward the jaws E E will be moved accordingly. Plate K has a ribor flange, k, on its upper side, which serves the double purpose ofstrengthening it and of preventing it from slipping out of the notches hh.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawing,the manner of using our machine will be readily understood.

The leather to be crimped is placed on the top of the jaws, after whichthe crank F is turned, and the leather is forced against and onto thecrimping-board O. The heel-screw a is then tightened down upon theleather. which is folded in under it, over the edges of the board, so asto hold it in place upon the board when the jaws are withdrawn; and thejaws are moved successively up and down until the leather stretched onthe board is made perfectly smooth and even.

Having thus described our invention, we claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States 1. The combination of posts B B andguidepiece D with crimping-jaws E E, plate K, ratchet I, andoperating-pinion H, all arranged upon a suitable bed-plate,substantially as and our own we have hereto aflixed our signatures forthe purpose set forth. in presence of two witnesses.

2. The combination of the crimping-jaws E ISAIAH H. SPAKE. E, plate K,and operating-ratchet I, substan- JOSEPH D. SPAKE. I tially as and forthe purpose herein shown and Witnesses:

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as J Alms G. SMITH.

described. ADOLPK J. TRIBOLET,

